Building-block.



No. 656,!38. I Patented Aug. l4, I900] W. A. JOHNSTON.

BUILDING BLOCK.

(Applicati'oix filed Mar. 29, 1900.}

(No Model.)

amw/wboz O W fiZ/ns'ion/ W v ammu UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

WILLIAM A, JOHNSTON, OF BARBERTOtN, OHIO, ASSIGNOR on ONE-HALF T0 OHIO o. BARBER, @on SAME PLACE.

BUILDING-BLOCK:

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 656,138, dated August 14, 1900.

. Application filed March 29, 1900. :Serial No. 10,645- (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, WiLLIAM A. JOHNSTON, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Barberton, in the county of Summit and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Building-Blocks, of which the following is a specification, reference being bad therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to masonry, and more particularly to thatclass known as build ing-blocks.

One object of the invention is to provide building-blocks of uniform size which can be arranged to produce walls of varying dimensions, said blocks having means whereby they may interlock at the varying adjustments to insure strength and rigidity.

A further object of the invention is to produce building-blocks in which the surfaces of the walls are uniform and in which the faces of the blocks are of equal size.

Furthermore, theobject of the invention is to produce building-blocks designed to be arranged in horizontally-disposed layers, with the joints in the blocks in one layer at the center of the lower edges of the blocks of the next succeeding layer. 7

Finally, the object of the invention is to produce building-blocks which will form a hollow wall of great strength, which will prove to a great degree impervious to heat, cold, or moisture, and in which the air-space can be used for water, gas, and soil pipes or for electric wiring.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists in the details of construction and in the arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully set forth and claimed, whereby a strong, durable, efficient, and comparatively inexpensive buildingblock and wall is produced.

In describing the invention in detail reference will be had to the. accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, wherein like characters denote corresponding parts in the several views, and in which- Figure 1 is a plan of a portion of a wall, showing the application of the blocks to produce a wall of maximum width. Fig. 2 is a similar view with the blocks in their inter- -1, a web 2, and a head 3, the latter being of less length than the former. The proportion depends on the width of the web 2, it being necessary that the ends of the head shall engage the edges of the webs of two blocks and that the base must be the length of the head plus the thickness of the web. The webs are provided on the edges with ribs 4, which are equidistantly spaced one from the other and from the head and base. The space between the ribs and between the ribs and the bases and heads is such as to permit the ends of the heads to be seated in the interstices,

and when a series of blocks are assembled in any of the positions shown in Figs. 1, 2, or

3 an. interlocking connection isfoi'med which adds greatly to the strength and durability of'the structure. As a further strengthening agent I provide interlocking shoulders 5 in the ends of the base, as fullyjshown.

,I prefer to provide therecesses 6 in the surfaces of the blocks for thereception of mortar or other cementing agent.

It will be noted by those skilled in the art .that in the use of blocks embraced in this invention no headers will be required, for

by merely breaking the joints a thoroughly strong and perfect wall is produced.

The construction and advantages will, it is thought, be understood from the foregoing description, accompanied by the illustration,

3. A building-block comprising a base, a Web and a head, the base being of less length than the head, and ribs 011 the web, all arranged as and for the purpose set forth.

5 4. A building-block comprising a base, a web, ribs on the Web eqnidistantly positioned, a head, said head having shoulders on either end; said block having recesses in its surfaces, all arranged as and for the purpose set 10 forth.

5; A building-block comprising a head, a. base and a web, said base being equal in length to the length of the head plus the thickness of the Web.

In testimony whereof I allix my signature 15 in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM A. JOHNSTON. lVitnesses:

ETTA E. MARSH, II. E. Looms. 

